History
According to the 1908 History of Kane County, Ill. (Joslyn, Vol. 2), McQueen was home to a brick and tile factory established by Henry C. Krumm, a German-born immigrant and experienced brickmaker. Krumm had worked in the trade for several years in Michigan, then spent nine years in Dundee, Illinois, and a further nine years in Gilbert, Illinois, before striking out on his own at McQueen.
The factory Krumm established was described as equipped with modern machinery and steam pump water power. At full capacity it employed ten men and produced approximately 10,000 bricks daily. (Source: History of Kane County, Ill., Vol. 2 (Joslyn, 1908))
The operation represented a notable concentration of industrial activity in the locality during the Progressive Era, when brick manufacturing supported construction demand across Kane County and the broader Chicago region.
Notable Associations
- Henry C. Krumm — Brick and tile manufacturer; founder of the McQueen factory. Born August 3, 1844, in Germany; immigrated with his family in 1856. Republican; member of the German Lutheran church. (Source: History of Kane County, Ill., Vol. 2 (Joslyn, 1908))
Sources
- History of Kane County, Ill., Joslyn, Vol. 2 (1908). Available at: https://archive.org/details/historyofkanecou02josl#offset-2023191